How to Make Animal Track Casts With Concrete

Find a track to cast. Good tracks are surprisingly hard to find; look in places with soft, wet mud, such as along shorelines or trails after a rain. Beginners may wish to search for dog tracks; they are easier to find and easier to cast than those of other animals. Find dog tracks at your local dog park or in your own backyard.

Clean the track. Remove easy-to-remove debris such as large pebbles and leaves. Do not remove debris that is compressed into the track.

Wrap your cardboard strip in a circle around the track. Press the cardboard circle gently into the soil around track to create a seal. This will prevent the concrete mixture from bleeding out of the sides. Paper clip the two ends of the strip together so that the circle will hold its shape.

Mix the concrete according to the directions on the mixture package. Tap the mixing container on the ground to remove air bubbles from the mixture. You will need about 1 cup of concrete mixture per set of tracks; a little more is needed for larger tracks (e.g., wolf tracks). Immediately after mixing, pour gently into the circle, smoothing out the surface with the mixing utensil until it is uniformly flat. Work quickly; concrete begins to set once it mixes with water. Pour a deep and thick layer of concrete, filling up to the brim of the circle.

Bear-Tracker.com recommends pouring the mixture into the area around the track and allowing it to slowly flow into the impression; the reason for this is because concrete poured directly into the track can compromise the track's structural integrity. A heavy stream of concrete can compress delicate details inside the track. You can also pour the concrete over a spoon and allow the mixture to trickle down into the impression like honey dripping off a spoon.

Concrete is more durable than plaster of Paris; pieces made from concrete tend to last longer than pieces made from plaster, especially outdoors. Concrete takes longer to set, however; while plaster takes a few hours, concrete can take up to two days. For something the size of a track, allow six hours to set and dry.

Check to see if your cast is ready. Touch or gently press into the concrete with your finger. If it is dry, gently pry the cast from the mud. Gently lift from underneath. Providing equal support to both sides of the cast can help prevent cracking that can result from using uneven pressure to lift it out. If the cast seems stuck in the mud, dig a few inches underneath the mud and remove the mud and cast together.

Put the cast in a safe, dry spot, such as on a windowsill in the sun. Allow several days before you clean or paint it. Rinse mud off with warm water; use a soft brush to delicately clean small crevices. Using a firm brush or applying too much pressure can result in breakage.